![DSC06807](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6280699169_2f7ef1ed1c.jpg)
A table of samples from Janel Laidman's three day color blending workshop. I got to take her one day ply-blending workshop and her half-day fiber blending workshop, both of which were amazing.
![DSC06811](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6280699773_cc17491e22.jpg)
The results of Pat Sparks' three day workshop on pictoral needle-felted "watercolors".
![DSC06815](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6044/6281218092_f46ec2aa6a.jpg)
A glorious pile of art yarns, including the cover yarn for the SOAR magazine, from Jacey Boggs' three-day. I took her thick'n'thin'n'coils class on Friday and oh my goodness, she is the most wonderfully technical spinner ever. Such a cool way to learn about art yarns!
There was a gallery of finished items to ogle as well. I caught it as the light was coming in strong and golden from over the river.
![DSC06823](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6281218438_aeb49be07f.jpg)
![DSC06823](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6281218438_aeb49be07f.jpg)
The final night was a huge group spin-in in the Armory.
![DSC06839](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6280703075_a486fa8c48.jpg)
![DSC06839](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6280703075_a486fa8c48.jpg)
The big things I think I've taken from SOAR are not answers to the questions I had, or the techniques I learned. While I came away with plenty of those, the major thing was that every question answered or technique learned was a hydra--two more "what if?"s sprang up in their wake. What if you combined a gradient-carded series of batts with a handpainted roving fractal? How would you spin silk on a tahkli? How did both Roman sheep and Viking sheep develop single and double-coated breeds? What happened to sheep domestication and breed development when the masses moved from the country to the city in the Black Plague? Could you use a Guatemalan spindle to spin in the Blackfoot tradition? What if, what if, what if, what if--I can't wait to keep exploring these throughout the rest of the year.
Ohh, your photos are so enticing and it sounds like you had the experience of a lifetime. Looking forward to reading more about SOAR as you process your wonderful week. Welcome home!
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